Use of mobile payment services skyrockets as consumers opt for convenience

Whether it is the down payment on an apartment involving about 3 million yuan ($434,440), or just 2 yuan needed to buy a steamed stuffed bun for breakfast, Song Yu makes the payments with just a few clicks on his smartphone.

"I usually put a few hundred yuan in my physical wallet, but I almost never use the cash unless I travel to remote villages," said Song, a 34-year-old freelance writer in Beijing.

Cashless payments have become part of everyday life in China due to the rapid development of financial technology, or fintech. People can leave their homes without carrying cash or bank cards and can use digital wallet services on their phones for shopping, dining out, or to make donations.